Matrix (printing)
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In the manufacture of metal type used in letterpress printing, a matrix is the mould used to cast a letter, known as a sort. Matrices for printing types were made of copper.
Matrices created by Jean Jannon around 1640. The Garamond typeface installed with most Microsoft software is based on these designs.
A composition case loaded with matrices for a font, used to cast metal type on a Monotype composition casting machine in the hot metal typesetting period. The matrices were stamped with punches machined using pantographs from large working drawings and intermediate copper patterns, and used to cast type under the control of a keyboard. This gave much cleaner results than pre-pantograph punches, which had to be hand-carved at the size of the desired letter, and allowed fonts to be issued in more sizes faster than was previously possible.
A punch (left) and the respective matrix produced from it (right). The small letters at the base of the matrix are founders' inventory marks.
Duplexed Linotype matrices for regular and bold styles.
Jean Jannon
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Jean Jannon was a French Protestant printer, type designer, punchcutter and typefounder active in Sedan in the seventeenth century. He was a reasonably prolific printer by contemporary standards, prin
Jannon's type from an Imprimerie nationale specimen. The 'J' is a later addition.
Jannon type specimen of their Caractères de l'Université. Sedan, 1621. Bibliothèque Mazarine, Paris